CERTAIN guests who stayed at a prominent luxury hotel could get thousands in a one-time distribution.
The direct payment opportunity comes after a class action lawsuit was filed against Fontainebleau Florida Hotel LLC.
Hotel guests could get thousands in a data breach settlement (stock image)[/caption]
The settlement is awaiting court approval (stock image)[/caption]
Fontainebleau owns two upscale hotels in Las Vegas and Miami.
Plaintiffs in the suit claim that a data breach in the hotel company’s systems in 2022 exposed customers’ personal information, including Social Security numbers and financial details, per a website created for the case.
The suit also argues that Fontainebleau could’ve prevented the unauthorized access with ample cybersecurity measures.
Fontainebleau did not admit any wrongdoing in the case but agreed to a settlement to resolve the claims and avoid further legal costs.
The settlement is still awaiting court approval, but a claim filing deadline of October 31, 2024, leaves guests only hours left to get cash from the pot.
ELIGIBILITY
Those who qualify for a settlement distribution must have been directly impacted by the 2022 Fontainebleau data breach.
They would’ve received a notice by email or mail about the incident.
The notice would’ve noted the breach took place between August 30 and September 2, 2022.
Documentation verifying out-of-pocket expenses as a result of the data breach is required when submitting a claim.
That could be through the form of bills, bank statements, credit reports, invoices, receipts, tax documents, or more.
FILING A CLAIM
Those customers already eligible for a payment in the settlement would’ve received a postcard with a Claimant Login on it.
It’s advised to contact the class administrator at 866-742-4955 if you did not get a Claimant Login.
Claims can be filed through the settlement website online with the Claimant Login, downloaded via PDF and mailed to the class administrator.
The deadline to file a claim is, again, October 31, 2024.
What’s a class-action settlement?
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or ‘classes,’ a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.
The exclusion and objection deadline already passed on September 16.
PAYMENT
Potential payment amounts will vary depending on the out-of-pocket expenses noted and verified by those who file.
A maximum of $1,000 will be awarded as reimbursement for documented losses including bank fees, credit costs, communication charges, and travel expenses.
Lost time will also be reimbursed at $25 per hour for up to four hours.
Those who suffered fraud or identity theft as a result of the 2022 data breach could get a much larger payment of $4,000.
In addition to the money, all eligible claimants will also get two years worth of credit monitoring and identity theft protection.
Fontainebleu also committed to adding more cybersecurity measures to its systems.
The final approval hearing for the settlement is coming up on December 9, 2024.
Eligible claimants can expect to see the cash sometime soon after.
